The Orchid Thief Signed First Edition Reference

The Orchid Thief (Random House, 1998) is Orlean’s account of John Laroche, a Florida nurseryman who led a group of Seminole Indians into a state preserve to steal rare orchids. The book expands from true-crime narrative into a meditation on obsession, passion, and Florida’s surreal landscape. Charlie Kaufman’s screenplay Adaptation (2002) used the difficulty of adapting the book as its central narrative device, making Orlean herself a character played by Meryl Streep.

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first in jacket: $30–$75
• Unsigned first in jacket: $8–$15

The film connection adds cultural cachet — collectors of both literary nonfiction and film-related books seek this title.